Forward, Jake Tabor has joined Hemel Hempstead Town from Swindon Town for an undisclosed transfer fee.
Tabor’s move came after just one season at Swindon in which he only managed 14 appearances, and managed just three goals in 17 combined appearances from loan spells at Eastleigh and Bath City.
In a short statement confirmed the 22-year-old’s move, Swindon thanked him for his efforts and wished him well for his future.
“All of us here at Swindon would like to thank Jake for his efforts while at the Club, and we all wish him well for the future.”
Hemel Hempstead’s Head of Recruitment, Joe Pope explained to the club’s website that the decision to sign Tabor marks a statement of the Tudors’ intent in National League South, and gives manager – Lee Allinson a player who he admires.
“I am incredibly excited to get Jake on board as a Tudors player. This is one that has been bubbling away in the background and one that we have had to be patient with over the summer, as we have been chasing him ever since I came in and is someone that Lee knows well and thinks very highly of. For us to be able to land him, I think it is a real statement of intent.
“For us, it is all about having the right ‘balance’ of different profiles in the final third of the pitch. You’ve got to have different ‘clubs in the bag’, so to speak. Jake is a proper ‘fox in the box’ type.
“His goal in the game against Hendon is typical of the type of goals that he scores and what he will bring to this side; that knowhow of being in the right place at the right time, and good positioning between the posts.”
Pope proceeded to add that Tabor offers extra tactical variety up front given his record in Non League, as evidenced by his 127 goals in 91 appearances at Amersham across 2023-24 & 24-25 seasons in Combined Counties League, during which he helped them gain promotion to their Premier Division North.
“We’ve already got physical #9’s in Josh Steele and Remaye Campbell – both of whom have already proven to be a real handful – but myself and Lee felt we needed that bit more of a “killer” in front of goal, and Jake gives us that. You’ve only got to look at his record; admittedly, at a lower level, but it speaks for itself. He knows where the net is. He’s a goal scorer.
“He got his big move into the Football League with Swindon Town off the back of a superb spell at Amersham Town and while he perhaps didn’t get the benefit of regular game time, he is a player that myself and Lee retain a lot of belief in. You’ve got to remember: he is still only 22.”
“Part of our job in recruitment is identifying players that we feel we can get more out of potentially than they have done elsewhere, and myself and Lee definitely feel that is the case with Jake. We feel we know how to get the best out of him, and if we can then we’ve got a match-winner. He will work unbelievably hard for the opportunity, and is another exciting addition to the group.”
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